August 2017

Sharon L. Morey passed away in OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria on July 24, 2017. Ottawa Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.  Inurnment will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Sharon has been laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Charles O. “Charlie” Calligaris, 99, of Marseilles, passed away Monday, August 14, 2017 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a. m. Friday, August 18, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Rev. Anthony Ego and Deacon Ron Wackerlin officiating. Visitation will be from 5-8 p. m. Thursday at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:45 p. m. Entombment will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.

Charlie was born November 11, 1917, in South Wilmington, to Michael and Rosalia (Scanavino) Calligaris. On October 5, 1946, he married Elizabeth Bergera at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Spring Valley.

He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where he served on the Parish Council, was an usher and made ravioli for many years. He served in the U.S. Army as a Corporal in WWII, assigned to Battery C, 183rd Field Artillery Battalion in the European Theater of Operations. After the Army, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Charlie was employed by Nabisco for 40 years until his retirement in 1982. He was a member of the Marseilles VFW Post 5506, American Legion Post 235, a lifetime member of the Marseilles Lion’s Club, a board member of the LaSalle County Housing Authority, a board member of Marquette High School, and past president of Marseilles Nabisco Union.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Betty; one daughter, Charlene (Lyle) Nelson; one son, Charles (Karen) Calligaris of Morris; four grandchildren, Matt Nelson, Sonja (Josh) Novotney, Sarah (Mark) Clemmons, and Christine (Brandon) Niewinski; and ten great-grandchildren, Hallie and Logan Nelson, Alec, Griffin and Noah Novotney, Finley and Andrew Clemmons, and Bryce, Brooklyn and Brayden Niewinski.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Sutton and Katie Garda; and one brother, Paul Calligaris.

Memorials may be given to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or Marquette Academy.

Pallbearers will be Matt Nelson, Josh Novotney, Mark Clemmons, Brandon Niewinski, Mark Johnson, Bill Medler, and Tom Adler. Honorary Pallbearers will be Charlie Morrall, Jack Frost, and Brett Dorrington.

“Charlie”, as he was known by his friends, truly embraced the words faith, family and friends. Through his devotion to his Catholic faith, his loyalty to his family and his unending service to his community, Charlie has bestowed a legacy of love to all of us. He believed involvement, dedication and leadership was not only a duty but a right that each person should embrace. He loved sports, especially his St. Louis Cardinals and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish; as well as following his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s sporting endeavors. Anytime one would pass him sitting in his garage with his special companion Peanut, his smile and friendly cane-wave always left you with a warm feeling of his friendship. We will all miss Charlie. We have truly lost our hero.

Charlie has been laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Prayer.

Seals-Campbell Funeral Home 1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341 815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com

Betty J. Gladfelter of Monmouth passed away July 9, 2017 at the Monmouth Nursing Home. Betty was born in Ottawa, Illinois on July 22, 1926, the daughter of Leslie D. and Anna L. Warren Fiske. She attended the Ottawa public schools and upon graduation first worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” on aircraft cockpits being produced for the war effort at the Libby Owens plant in Ottawa. Betty then attended the Normal Teacher’s College (now Illinois State University) for two years and taught for two years in a one room country school house near Ottawa. On August 27, 1949, Betty married Howard Gladfelter, also from Ottawa, at the Ottawa Christ Episcopal Church. She and Howard then moved to Monmouth where Howard was finishing his degree at Monmouth College and beginning his employment with the National Bank of Monmouth. They joined the First United Methodist Church and Betty went to work for the Illinois Bankers Life Insurance Company headquarters in downtown Monmouth. Betty left her work in 1953 to begin raising her family. She and Howard built a new home on East Second Avenue in 1963 where they lived until Howard’s death in 1995. Betty also worked for several years at the newly built Warren Achievement school on East Second Avenue. Betty loved raising and caring for her family, traveling, gardening and flowers, bird watching, and playing bridge with friends. Betty is survived by her three children, Mark (Gwen) Gladfelter, Don (Vicki) Gladfelter and Jan (Gary) Martin, all of Monmouth, six grandchildren,  and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, and one grandson.

Cremation rights have been accorded and interment will be at the Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Friends may call on the family at the Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth on Wednesday, July 12 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The family wishes to express their appreciation for the help and support provided to Betty while she was living at Courtyard Estates and the Monmouth Nursing Home. We would also like to acknowledge the support provided by Compassus Hospice. Memorial gifts may be made to the Monmouth Park District. A private graveside service will be held at the Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date.

Betty has been laid to rest in Garden of Devotion.

Carl Adrian, 77, of Granville, formerly of Peru, passed away Friday evening, August 11, 2017 at Heartland Health Care Center in Henry, IL Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, August 17, 2017 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Peru with Rev. Timothy Kenyon, pastor officiating.  Interment will follow in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa with full military rites conducted by the American Legion Post 33 Veteran’s Group Honor Guard.  Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Peru.  Additional visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday at the church.

 Mr. Adrian was born on October 23, 1939 in Chicago to Carl and Hilda (Standing) Adrian.  He married Judith Moynihan on May 25, 1963 in Chicago.  She passed away September 21, 2005.  He then married Cheri Klein on December 1, 2007 at Starved Rock in Utica.  Carl served in the Army being stationed in Landstuhl, Germany.  He owned and operated the Tastee Freez in Spring Valley for 38 years.

 He is survived by his wife, Cheri of Granville; four step-children, Christopher (Ivette) Baron, Natilee (Tony) Foster, Collette Klein and Heather (Doug) Knoblauch; nine step-grandchildren; one step, great-grandchild; one nephew, Kim (Melissa) Harden; one sister, Vera (Ken) Wiater of Inverness, IL;  three nieces, Linda Wiater, Lorraine (Mark) Stechman and Julie (Jeff) Ransel; one grand-nephew, Spencer Stechman.

 He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Judith.

 Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Margaret’s Hospice or to the American Cancer Society.

Carl has been laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Peace.

Don “Doc”  Nickerson, 92, of Ottawa, died Tuesday morning, August 1, 2017, at Pleasant View in Ottawa.  Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. on Monday, August 7, in the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with the Rev. Duane Kaufman,  officiating.  Interment will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa where full military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 33 Veteran’s Group Honor Guard.  Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the services on Monday.

 Dr. Nickerson was born on April 5, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, to Ralph R. and Ivy (Morton) Nickerson.  He served in the Army Air Corps as a Ball Turret Gunner during WWII, flying 38 bombing missions on a B-24 Liberator with the 376th Bomb group,  He received his. B. S. from Iowa State University, and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University.  He operated his own veterinary practice in Marseilles for 30 years until his retirement. He married Marvel Arlette Johnson on September 3, 1948 at Christ Episcopal Church in Ottawa.  She died on June 8, 1997, “Doc” was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, a member of the American Legion, and a life member of the Ottawa VFW.  He was a member of the Ottawa Elks Lodge, and a member of Occidental Lodge 40, AF and AM.  He volunteered more than 6,700 hours at OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital (Community Hospital of Ottawa).

 He is survived by children, Jane Robinson, of Sarasota, FL, Donald Nickerson, Jr. of Sarasota, Fl, and Mary (Jeff) Kiper, of Marseilles, 1 grandson, Jason Aubry, and 1 great-grandson, Patrick Aubry, 2 brothers, Warren (Sandy) Nickerson, of Cape Cod, and Roy (Connie) Ferguson, of the State of Washington, and his companion Phyllis Riordan, of Ottawa.

Doc has been laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Peace.

Dorothy McDonald, 89, of Ottawa, IL, died on Monday night, July 24, 2017 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.

A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at St. Columba Church in Ottawa, with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be held prior to mass beginning at 10 am. Burial will follow mass at Oakwood Memorial Park. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Dorothy was born on August 3, 1927 in Ottawa to John and Mary Facer. She was a graduate of St. Xavier’s academy. For several years, Dorothy worked as a telephone operator supervisor for Illinois Bell. On February 20, 1952, Dorothy married Don R. McDonald. She was an active member of St. Columba Church. She enjoyed traveling, listening to music, playing bingo, and spending time with family and friends.

Dorothy is survived by her 4 children; Debra (Stewart) McDaniel, of Palatine, IL, Sandy (Erick) Sokn, of Janesville, WI, Linda Hughes, of Chaska, MN, and David McDonald, of Bensenville, IL. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Facer, her husband, Don R. McDonald, her brothers, Edward Facer and Louis Galo, and her son-in-law Mark Hughes.

Memorials may be directed to the family to be designated later.

Dorothy has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

William E. Elzer, 88, of Ottawa, died on Monday night, July 31, 2017, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with the Rev. David Daniel, pastor of Zion Ev. Lutheran Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa where full military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 33 Veteran’s Group Honor Guard.  Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the services.

Bill was born on Dec. 27, 1928, in Ottawa to Henry and Anna (Rossman) Elzer.  He was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War.  He was employed at Caterpillar in Joliet, L.O.F. and retired from Snap-On in Ottawa in 1992. He married Elaine Benvenuti Jefferson on Dec. 20, 1989 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Ottawa. He was a member of Zion Ev. Lutheran church, American Legion Post 33, and a member of the Veteran’s Group Honor Guard. 

He is survived by his wife, of Ottawa, a son David Elzer, of Streator, 2 step sons Gerald (Sandra) Jefferson, of Elburn and Brian (Anna) Jefferson, of Utica, 4 grandchildren, Sarah Elzer, and Graham, Peter, and Anthony Jefferson, a brother Robert (Melva) Elzer, of Wood Dale, and a sister Jean Sawicki, of Ottawa.

 Bill was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, Jeffery, 4 brothers, Norman, Henry, Joseph, and Arnold, and a sister Marion Tylk.

 Memorials may be directed to the American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard.

Bill has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Ten Commandments.

James C. Bagley, of Ottawa, passed away following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on July 24, 2017, in Chicago, IL, with his family by his side.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 31, 2017, at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, in Ottawa, Illinois. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 30, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., at Ottawa Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow the visitation. Friends and family are invited to remain and share memories of Jim and the joys that he brought to the lives of others.  Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Jim was born on October 15, 1948, to Gladys and Elwood Bagley in Clinton, Iowa. He spent his childhood on the family farm in Low Moor, IA, which always held a special place in his heart. Jim graduated from Central Community High School in DeWitt, IA, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from The University of Iowa. Upon graduation from The University of Iowa, he taught at Seneca Grade School in Seneca, IL, for 17 years. During this time, Jim also coached basketball and baseball at Seneca Junior High, as well as baseball at Seneca High School. He continued his education, receiving his MS in Education and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Education (CAS) from Illinois State University. He served as Principal of Center School in Morris, IL, and as Superintendent of Marseilles Elementary School and Peru Grade Schools. After retiring from Peru Grade Schools, he shared an interim superintendent position at Putnam County Schools.

Jim was a dedicated and proud member of many civic and professional organizations both during his career and following his retirement. Jim participated in many educational organizations including LEASE (LaSalle Education Association of Special Education), VOICES (a group of area educational leaders who advocated and worked to improve the schools in Illinois), Illinois Education Association/National Education Association, Illinois Principals Association, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Illinois School Business Officials, Illinois Association of School Boards, and Illinois/LaSalle County Retired Teachers Association.

Jim was also active in the local chapters and served on the executive boards of Rotary, PADS, Youth Service Bureau of Eastern LaSalle County, and Reddick Mansion. He was elected to the 400 Condominium Association Board in Chicago and served as Vice-President of the Board and Chairman of the Safety Committee.

Jim will be remembered and forever treasured for his kind and caring spirit, thoughtfulness and generosity, witty and humorous remarks, contagious smile, and, above all, his ability to see the best in all people.

Jim is survived by his wife, Lynn; daughters, Katie Bagley and Molly (Jeremy) DeBernardi; sister-in-law, Cheryl (Michael) Elenz; brothers-in-law, Jim (Megan) Lawler and Jon Hulting; nephews Scott (Mary Beth) Hulting, Will Lawler and Keith Lawler; nieces Lisa (Todd) Lampe, Colleen Fenwick and Malynda Castaneda; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Elwood Bagley; mother, Gladys Bagley; sister, Fern Hulting; father-in-law, Richard (Dick) Lawler; and mother-in-law, Mary Lawler.

Pallbearers will be Stan Baker, Rod Engstrom, Roger Hill, Tom Gumm, Rich Myers, Greg Ryan and Mike Vezzetti. Honorary pallbearers will be Dean Bartholomew, Jim Hofer, Dave Mayberry, Kim Peters, and Jim Whitmore.

Memorials may be directed in Jim’s name to the National Parkinson Foundation-Chicago, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network- Greater Chicago, or Gilda’s Club of Chicago.

Jim has been laid to rest in the Garden of Hymns.

Margaret “Dorothy” Clemens, age 92, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at Heritage Health in Dwight.

Private family services will be held.  There will be no visitation.  Gladfelter Funeral Home is assisting the family. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Dorothy was born August 16, 1924 in Ottawa, a daughter of Harvey and Edna (Claude) Wilcox.  She married Harold “Teenie” Clemens September 22, 1945 in Ottawa.  He preceded in death March 22, 2005.  She is survived by her sons, Harvey Leo (June) Clemens, Howard Lee (Nancy) Clemens and William Allen (Peg Shinnick) Clemens all of Ottawa; ten grandchildren, twenty and a half great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by a son, Harold Clemens, Jr., a daughter, Carol Clemens and a sister, Beverly Schuett.

Dorothy was a member of Evangelical United Methodist Church where she had served as secretary-treasurer.  She was very interested in Ottawa history and genealogy and was active in the Genealogy Guild and the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum.  She was involved in the Lincoln School PTA and was a Cub Scout Den Mother.  She could always be found at any activity her children were participating in.  Her leisure time would find her doing crochet, keeping up with her coin collection or bicycling.  Memorial contributions may be directed to Evangelical United Methodist Church or to the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum.

Dorothy has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.